Loveland-area business briefs published Oct. 12

LOVELAND -- Participating members of the Downtown Loveland Association raised $3,000 recently to aid those affected by the Front Range flood.

The event was held at Tommy Gun's Hideout, 111 E. Fifth St.

"The sun shines a bit brighter this morning," said Roland Demers, board president of the Downtown Loveland Association and owner of Tommy Gun's Hideout, in a news release.

Seventeen small businesses contributed live music, donations and a silent auction. Local bands included Dr. Doctor Blues Band, Bad Brad of the Fat Cats and Bryan Patterson, winner of "Loveland's Got Talent" and the Tommy Gun's "Karaoke Showdown. According to organizers, Dr. Doctor performed despite four members suffering significant losses in the flood.

Chillers Bar and Grill, 128 E. Fourth St., bid $1,500 for a vintage 1978 Les Paul Guitar donated by Dr. Doctor. "That guitar will proudly hang on our wall for locals to use," said Tommy from Chillers. In addition, Barry Floyd, a local property owner, is providing housing for a couple from Drake recently displaced by the flood.

Donations went to the Larimer Humane Society and the House of Neighborly Service.

Fort Collins Country Club announces expansion project

FORT COLLINS -- Fort Collins Country Club members will celebrate the groundbreaking next spring on a $5 million renovation to club facilities, President Mark Smith said in a news release this week.

According to Smith, it is the largest member-voted outlay in the club's 54-year history and will feature three new indoor tennis courts.

"We're pleased to announce these improvements as part of our long-term strategic plan," said Smith. The first phase will start in spring and will include construction of the indoor tennis and fitness facility.

The second phase will include a new golf pro shop and the opening of a new restaurant overlooking holes 10 and 18. The restaurant will expand casual dining capacity from 42 to 130 seats.

The expansion was designed by Marsh & Associates of Denver.

Medical Center of the Rockies opens women's, children's unit

LOVELAND -- Officials from Medical Center of the Rockies have a new unit dedicated to caring for women and children.

Called the Women and Children's Services unit, it features 12 private patient rooms, targeted for children from birth through 17 years old, new postpartum mothers and their babies, and women following gynecological surgery, according to a release from the hospital.

Staffing for the unit will be the pediatricians and certified physician's assistant from Peakview Medical Center in Greeley and Loveland.

"Caring for women and children is what our Mother and Family Center team and Women and Children's team are passionate about," said Pat Bohling-Smith, director of the Women and Children's Services at University of Colorado Health in Northern Colorado. "We're excited to provide family-centered care to each and every patient we care for, and we strive to improve the lives of our patients and the patients' families."

For more information about the Women and Children's unit, call 624-2160.

According to a release from the company, the Lulzbot TAZ 2 has benefited from $228,840 raised on the Fundable platform.

The new printer features an LCD display with an SD card reader to allow users to make prints without being attached to a computer. In addition, its build volume is the largest of any printer in its class, according to the company, approximately 12 inches by 11 inches by 10 inches.

Aleph is partnering with Fundable to increase funding to grow its business and meet high customer demand, according to the company. The TAZ 2 can be pre-ordered through Oct. 31 via fundable.com/lulzbot-taz.

According to the owners, the company was founded to help people take full control of their retirement fund through the STRIP Plan (Self Trustee Retirement Investment Plan), which they say eliminates the need for a third party custodian.

The STRIP plan incorporates more investment options than traditional plans, including but not limited to: real estate, precious metals, tax liens, promissory notes, stocks, bonds, investments in a business, according to a release. It also allows the holder to write checks, have higher annual contribution limits, more tax deferral options, loans with no fees, and higher asset protection.

The event will be at the Drake Center, 802 W. Drake Road in Fort Collins

According to organizers, the conference supports inventors, authors and thought-leaders with workshops on branding, publishing, persuasion, publicity and speaking skills. A 2013 feature includes coached pitch sessions from inventors, authors and thinkers.

Additional workshops are planned throughout the day. Details and information about awards are available at quidnovifestival.com/.

GREELEY -- The University of Northern Colorado will celebrate the grand opening of its new BizHub business incubator with an open house 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

The open house is free and open to the public.

The incubator, at 807 17th St., Suite D, Greeley, will assist Colorado companies with business coaching, securing investment capital and workshops on designing and testing business models, according to a press release.

GREELEY -- Entrepreneurs have until Nov. 8 to submit their entries in the fifth annual Monfort College of Business Entrepreneurial Challenge.

The contest features $50,000 in prize money for the winners to use to develop their business ideas. First place wins $25,000, second place $15,000 and third place $10,000. The winners also will share $25,000 worth of services from the university's new BizHub business incubator.

According to a press release, the competition is open to Colorado-based startups and entrepreneurs who have begun business development, market research and product development but haven't yet received payment for their products or services.

Swan Heating and Air Conditioning will donate $10 to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for every furnace tune-up it performs in October. Phone: 215-5870.

Bank of Colorado branches in Estes Park, both Fort Collins branches and Johnstown have joined with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado to accept donations to assist the flood victims in Larimer County. Bank of Colorado will match up to $10,000 in donations through Oct. 31.

Alphagraphics Northern Colorado has entered into a three-year partnership with the Colorado Eagles as the hockey team's official sign company. On the Web: www.agnoco.com.

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County has distributed a new educational piece, "Need Help with Managing Your Money," to more than 40 public and nonprofit agencies in Larimer County.

Sam's Club has opened its doors to nonmembers for Saturday and Sunday only to support residents affected by flooding. In Loveland, it's at 1200 E. Eisenhower Blvd.; Also, the location at 4700 Boardwalk Drive, Fort Collins, will be open to nonmembers. Also, Sam's Club, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have pledged $150,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to the recovery efforts following the flooding.

Amanda Tate of First Western Trust has been appointed as a board member of the American Red Cross Northern Colorado Chapter. She has served with the Red Cross since July of 2013.

Brian Shelton has joined Bank of Colorado in Loveland and Johnstown as a mortgage loan officer. Phone: 420-6995.

Kathi Wright was honored Oct. 3 with the Southwesterner Award at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Southwest and Midwest Joint Leadership Conference. The award recognizes her "for her exemplary service to the community and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County." She is the director of the agency.

A sculpture recognizing a key figure in Regis University's history, the Rev. David M. Clarke, S.J., has been permanently installed in the vestibule of the building that bears his name. The bust of the former university president, chancellor and educational entrepreneur, created by artist Jack Kreutzer of Loveland, sits at the entrance of Clarke Hall on the Lowell Campus in Denver.

Calendar

Monday, Oct. 14

Colorado Women of Influence will be host to a "SAVI Salon" 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fifth Element Ranch, 6821 W. County Road 12, Loveland. Speaker is Tara Pogoda of the Warriors In Transition therapeutic program for veterans and their families. Cost: $5 for members, $10 nonmembers. Phone: 817-5315.